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With the current crisis, it’s a priority now than ever to take care of ourselves, mentally and physically. Read on for a guest post with Kayley George, a Registered Dietitian, on tips for healthy eating at home.

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing unprecedented stress for brides, but don’t let this uncertain situation compromise your health as well. Take advantage of this extra time at home to focus not only on your physical health, but your mental health as well. It’s not only important to stay healthy for yourself, but also to care for the people around you.

Healthy eating at home during quarantine can be a struggle. As a Registered Dietitian working with brides, this topic has come up in many conversations over the past few weeks.

Here are 6 helpful tips on how to avoid mindless eating while you are at home:

We’re so excited to welcome this “wedding week-of diet” guest post from Kayley George, RD, Lead Dietitian at Bells & Barbells. Kayley’s signature program, “Lose the Weight By the Date” has been supporting brides as they reset their eating habits since 2018. In this must-read post, Kayley lasers in on the biggest diet mistakes a pre-wedding bride can make, and how to skirt them successfully. Read on…and don’t forget to share with moms, bridesmaids and anyone who wants to look and feel their best on your big day (the guys, too!).

Let’s set the stage: It’s the week before you tie the knot. Excitement is in the air, nerves are jittery, and sleep is, well…nonexistent. With the buzz of people coming into town, last-minute appointments, and all of the other activities leading up to your wedding, it’s easy to turn to last-ditch diets to ensure that you fit seamlessly into your white dress. To avoid making the same mistakes of past brides, let’s clearly lay out the 7 wedding week-of diet mishaps to dodge:

1. Salty + Greasy Foods

Salty foods can be addictive and oh-so delicious, but you’ll want to cut back on salty snacks this week. Sodium, the main element in salt, causes your body to cling onto water and bloat. Greasy foods tend to have the same effect. The extra fat in greasy dishes swells up your stomach and takes longer to empty out. Instead of being uncomfortably stuffed, eat lighter foods until you are about 70% full.

2. New Foods You Have Never Tried Before

Being adventurous is fun, but hold off until the honeymoon to try new or exotic foods. Especially if you have a sensitive stomach, keep new dishes out of your wedding week-of diet since you don’t know how your body will respond. It’s best to not gamble with your stomach this week, and instead stick with the food you know your body thrives on!

3. High Carb Meals

With so much to do this week, it’s critical to have all the energy you can get. While carbohydrates provide your body with fuel, excessive amounts translate into blood sugar imbalances. Let’s be honest, we’ve all been on that blood sugar roller coaster. Soon after your blood sugar spikes, you are going to crash and be left with fatigue, headaches, weight shifts and moodiness: the opposite of what you need before you say, “I do”.

4. Added Sugars or Dairy

No bride wants to panic over pimples and breakouts leading up to the most photographed day of her life. Cutting back on added sugar and dairy products can keep the red spots at bay. The oxidative properties of sugar can trigger breakouts, while the hormone in dairy, IGF-1, is also a known culprit in acne. Eliminating your intake of these triggers will give you that coveted bridal glow!

5. Alcohol

Planning your wedding can be overwhelming, but it’s wise to turn limit your consumption of alcohol as a means of de-stressing during that final stretch. Alcohol’s wide-ranging effects can throw you off mentally, not to mention causing more bloating and breakouts. Spend time with friends and loved ones to take the edge off before you exchange your vows.

6. Last-Minute Detoxes

While it may sound trendy and tempting, don’t succumb to those last-minute detoxes. Overhauling your diet will put your body into a physiologically stressed state coined “fight or flight” mode. Even worse, many detoxes are reported to make your skin irritated, eyes bloodshot, and leave you with a lingering foul smell. For a more natural detox, focus on drinking a gallon of water per day and bumping up to 5 servings of cruciferous veggies in your diet.

7. Skipping Water

Water is your friend this week (and every week!). It’s easy to get distracted during the final days leading up to your wedding, but don’t let hydration fall onto the back burner. Water is essential to looking and feeling the absolute best you can be! Your body is composed of 60% water, which supports nearly every bodily function from metabolism to energy. Aim to drink at least half to all of your weight in ounces and you will be aisle-ready.

Find out more about Kayley George, RD, and her practical, satisfying, effective “Lose Weight By The Date” Program here. And make sure to let her know you found her at Weddings in Houston!